Cultural heritage is the tangible and intangible attributes of a society inherited from the past. It has many functions including identification, education, tourism, economic development and even security. Traditionally, it was considered as the property of the state and was protected by national laws. Since the late twentieth century, new approaches to cultural heritage have emerged. These include alternative heritage management and conservation strategies and new forms of cultural heritage such as digital objects. Cultural heritage is also increasingly recognised as a vital tool for sustainable development, with the potential to achieve social and environmental benefits.
However, the multifaceted nature of cultural heritage makes it difficult to define and protect. Its value is derived from the societies that recognize its values as important for the preservation of their identity and heritage. In this context, the concept of cultural heritage has evolved through a typological-thematic expansion, a change in its selection criteria and a shift from a normative to a flexible value-based approach (Vecco 2010).
The concept of cultural heritage has been defined as an asset that possesses intrinsic value as well as functional and symbolic significance. It consists of cultural products and activities, such as artefacts, monuments, groups of buildings, museums, natural heritage, landscapes, archaeological sites and cave dwellings. In addition to these physical heritage assets, the notion of cultural heritage also encompasses intangible assets such as traditions and practices that have been passed down through generations or oral history. This includes artisanship, craftsmanship and traditional knowledge.
As a result of these factors, the international community has established various legal instruments for protecting cultural heritage and promoting its use for sustainable development. These include the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the International Declaration on the Importance of Cultural Heritage for Everyone. However, the effectiveness of these legal frameworks is limited by a range of challenges, including insufficient financial resources, cultural conflicts, dwindling interest in local culture and the lack of harmonised methodologies to identify, evaluate and manage cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the complexities and challenges that arise in the implementation of cultural heritage for sustainable development are compounded by issues related to funding and the safe movement of heritage through zones of conflict. It is essential to have a mechanism for funding and organising these projects, which can be achieved through cooperation between those who are experts in cultural heritage and those who have expertise in organisation and management.
In order to sustain cultural heritage, the key is to make it accessible to the public in a safe environment. This can be done by ensuring that there are enough funds, technical support and raw materials. In addition, a good relationship between the custodians and the people who are interested in cultural heritage is essential. This will improve funding possibilities and pave the way for a more meaningful participation of stakeholders. This will also increase the chances of a successful and sustainable project.